Independence Blvd. Extension

Project Map

Project Fast Facts

Estimated Cost: $58 million (26 million construction, 30 million right-of-way and 2 million planning/other)

Property Acquisition Start: Fiscal Year 2020

Construction: Unfunded

Description

NCDOT is proposing to extend existing Independence Boulevard near the Covil/Montgomery Avenue corridor from the intersection with Randall Parkway to U.S. 74 (Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway). Overpasses, intersection improvements, and interchanges will be considered at multiple locations along the project. Additional lanes along Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway may be needed for continuous connection with nearby interchanges at Kerr Avenue and 23rd Street. NCDOT will also consider improvements at two CSX railroad crossings.

The primary purpose of the proposed project is to improve regional mobility, congestion, connectivity within the city, and transportation system linkage from Randall Parkway, in the vicinity of Independence Boulevard, to Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway that is consistent with local and state transportation plans.

News and Updates

The first Citizen’s Informational Workshop will be held on June 13, 2011 from 4 to 7 p.m.at the Rachel Freeman School of Engineering, 2601 Princess Place Drive, Wilmington, N.C. 28405

Information to be provided at the Workshop:

Newsletter #1 – Newsletter announcing the workshop and presenting information on the project

Project Overview and Purpose

The purpose of this project is to help increase mobility for motorists traveling north and south in central Wilmington –College Road is currently the only north-south road that connects all of the main east-west routes in Wilmington. However, the volume of traffic on College Road is already challenged, and the highway can’t be easily widened because of development along the roadway. Kerr Avenue is another north-south roadway in the area. NCDOT has already proposed to widen Kerr Avenue from two to four lanes, with a new interchange proposed at the Kerr Avenue intersection with Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and a “quadrant” style intersection with Market Street. The proposed improvements to Kerr Avenue do not provide the length of continuous north-south connectivity that is provided by College Avenue. Traffic in central Wilmington indicates that, even after the future widening of Kerr Avenue, there is still a need for additional north-south connectivity and a road that can carry large volumes of traffic.

Therefore, the extension of Independence Boulevard is being studied as an additional, north-south road that will better connect the major east-west routes, and provide more capacity to handle increasing traffic.
In addition, local plans call for improved connections between the Port of Wilmington, Wilmington International Airport, UNC Wilmington and I-40, allowing for the efficient movement of people and goods. Since 1972, Wilmington has proposed a future widening and extension of Independence Boulevard for this purpose.

Resources for Local Property Owners

In many cases, it is inevitable that a certain amount of private property must be acquired. The displacement of homes and businesses is minimized to the extent practicable. The following brochures will answer questions about this process.